With the future of the movie theatre uncertain, Warner Bros. Picture Group has announced that its ENTIRE 2021 slate will debut exclusively on HBO Max in the U.S. on the same day the films hit cinemas.
This includes a number of titles that horror fans have been eagerly anticipating, including Michael Chaves’ The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It, Adam Wingard’s Godzilla vs. Kong, and James Wan’s Malignant. Other notable titles include the new Mortal Kombat film, Dune, Matrix 4, In the Heights, Space Jam: A New Legacy, and The Suicide Squad sequel. HBO Max members will have 30 days to view each film on the platform, with the films remaining in theatres even after that window has passed.
It’s currently unclear what this move means for viewers in the UK, since the streaming platform is currently unavailable in this country. But since HBO has a deal in place with Sky, it’s possible that these films will be available on our tellies in the not-so-distant future.
It’s also worth noting that as of right now, this is not considered a long-term plan, but rather a temporary strategy in response to the ongoing health crisis.
“With this unique one-year plan, we can support our partners in exhibition with a steady pipeline of world-class films, while also giving moviegoers who may not have access to theatres or aren’t quite ready to go back to the movies the chance to see our amazing 2021 films,” Ann Sarnoff, WarnerMedia chair and CEO, said in a statement. “We see it as a win-win for film lovers and exhibitors, and we’re extremely grateful to our filmmaking partners for working with us on this innovative response to these circumstances.”
Words: Samantha McLaren (@themeatispeople)
